DOE Announces Nearly $170M In Available Funding To Advance Solar Energy Technologies

As part of the Department of Energy's SunShot Initiative, Energy Secretary Steven

Chu announced recently nearly $170M in available funding over three years to support

a range of solar photovoltaic (PV) technology areas. The SunShot Initiative aims to

reduce the total cost of solar energy systems by about 75 percent – to roughly $1

per watt – before the end of the decade. The research and development funding

announced recently will support four areas of investment, including improving the

efficiency and performance of solar cells; developing new installation – or balance

of systems – technologies; advancing solar energy grid integration; and researching

new materials and processes for solar PV technologies. Together, these investments

will help reduce the cost for utility-scale solar energy installations, increase

American economic competitiveness, and help the U.S. lead the world in the global

market for solar photovoltaics.

"These investments will drive innovation in the solar energy field – laying the

groundwork to meet our SunShot goal of dramatically reducing the cost of solar

energy nationwide and helping America to win the race to produce the most cost-

effective, high-quality photovoltaics in the world," said Secretary Chu. "A robust

American solar industry will boost our technological leadership and competitiveness,

improve the nation's energy security, create skilled manufacturing jobs, and help

reach the President's goal of doubling our clean energy in the next 25 years."

The four funding opportunities announced today build on the Department's strong

portfolio of research and development efforts in solar energy. Activities under

these funding areas will help improve the performance of current and next generation

PV cells, develop advanced power electronics that optimize the performance of PV

installations, and reduce the costs of PV balance-of-system hardware.